Defamation Act 2005

If an offer to make amends is made in relation to the matter in question but is not accepted, it is a defence to an action for defamation against the publisher in relation to the matter if —

the publisher made the offer as soon as practicable after becoming aware that the matter is or may be defamatory;

at any time before the trial the publisher was ready and willing, on acceptance of the offer by the aggrieved person, to carry out the terms of the offer; and

in all the circumstances the offer was reasonable.

In determining whether an offer to make amends is reasonable, a court —

must have regard to any correction or apology published before any trial arising out of the matter in question, including the extent to which the correction or apology is brought to the attention of the audience of the matter in question taking into account —

the prominence given to the correction or apology as published in comparison to the prominence given to the matter in question as published; and

the period that elapses between publication of the matter in question and publication of the correction or apology;

may have regard to —

whether the aggrieved person refused to accept an offer that was limited to any particular defamatory imputations because the aggrieved person did not agree with the publisher about the imputations that the matter in question carried; and

any other matter that the court considers relevant.